Machine for forming uppers for boots or shoes



` G. H. CLARK Er AL MACHINE FOR FORMING UPFERS FOR BOOTS OR SHOES Filed May 21 1923 5 Shea ts-Sheet 1 were@ 7 15 fea A'ug. 31 1926. Y i 1,598,423

G. H. LARK Er AL MACHINE FOR FORMING UPPERS FOR BOOTS OR SHOES Filed May 21. 1923 s Sheets-sunt 2 Aug. 3l 1926. 1,598,423

G. H. CLARK ET AL MACHINE Fon FoRuING uPPEns Fon BOOTS 0R sHoEs Filed may 21, 1923 3 Sheets-Shut :5

Patented Aug. 31, i926.

UNITED Q i? i C GEORGE I-I. CLARK AND LEWIS A. REARDON, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHQNE FOR FOR-MEQ@ PPERS .FOB BOOTS OR SHOES.

Application filed. May 21, 1923.

This invention relates to machines for forming uppers for boot, shoes and the like and more particularly to forming uppers for the well known stitch down7 shoe.

Among the objects of the present invention is to produce a machine of this class that may be power opera-ted and which is of such construction and arrangement that certain functions thereof may be performed by power while others may be performed manually or by foot power if desired.

lt is a further object of the invention to so arrange the driving mechanism that the machine may be operated in two stages, wherein the first stage accomplishes the functions of clamping and forming the upper and retaining the material in said clamped and formed condition by the respective implements therefor; and the second Vstage to thereafter restore the clamping and forming implements to their normal or starting positions, between which stages an interval of whatever duration may intervene Another object of the invention is to produce a machine of this class wherein the upper is formed from a blank which has been previously cut the desired size and shape, and which when formed and assembled with the sole requires no further trim.

ming. lt is therefore an object of this invention to produce a formed shoe upper which, in so far as edge trimmingr is concerned, is'a finished article, and as-an aid to said result, the present machine is provided with devices which position the upper prior to the clamping and forming operations and ensure a uniformity of width of flange not heretofore obtainable in machines of this class.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for heating the upper during the forming process, this being of particular advantage when an upper having a box toe is to be formed or when the material has been previously treated by steaming, moistening, or other well known or usual process.

The invention further contemplates certain other objectssuch as the production of a heated clamping member which is' detachable, and reversible for rights and lefts, and a coacting clamp member and forming plate also detachable. and reversible for rights and lefts.

The production of a combined clamp and upper forming plate being capable of universal movement while under pressure is also Serial No. 640,399.

an object of the invention, together with the production of certain devices for adjusting the said 1plate toward or from the forming implement, as well as resilient means coacting` with the heated clamp member.

It is not known that the objects above set forth have been attained in an organized machine of this class and therefore it is not the intention to limit this invention to the precise construction and arrangement shown as it is obvious various changes might be'made therein without departing from its spirit and scope.

Of the drawings Figure 1 represents in side elevation one form of machine embodying the invention, certain portions being broken away to more clearly illustrate portions of the starting and stopping devices.

.Figure 2 a view looking toward the right Figure l.

Figure 8 a view looking toward the left F lgure l.

Figures t and 5 details to be referred to.

Figure 6 a top plan view of the machine as seen in Figure l certain portions being broken away for clearness.

Figure 'i' a top plan view of a portion of the machine seen in Figure 2 showing the coactin@ clamp and upper forming plate.

Figure 8 a section on the line 8-8, Figure 2 through certain portions of the forward end of the machine showing the material in place and ready for the clamping and forming operations.

Figure 9 a view similar to Figure 8 but showing the material as having been formed and in close contact with the heating devices.

Figure 10 in perspective view shows a blank as it would appear when removed from the machine.

Figure l1 a view similar to Figure l0 but 1slliouliing the reverse side of the formed an i.'

Like characters represent like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings The drawings herewith illustrate one form of machine embodying the present invention and consists in part of a suitable frame lO having adjustably supported thereon a box-like structure ll secured to the frame l0 by the screws 12 and capable of vertical adjustment through the cooperation of the wedge members 13 aiiixed to the said box 11 and the slidable wedge members 14 under the control of the screw 15. By slackening the screws 12 and turning the screw 15 in the proper direction it is obvious that the vertical position of the box 11 and the parts carried thereby may be changed to a nicety to accommodate the class of material to be operated upon.

The box 11 is so constructed as to removably support a combined clamp cooperating and upper forming plate 16 which will be hereinafter referred to as the forming` plate.

rThe said forming plate 16 may be made of metal, but it is preferred that it shall be composed of wood, fibre board or similar material of sufficient strength to stand the pressure ordinarily applied to it.

Three of the edges of the said plate have inserted in them resilient extensions 17 which snugly but removably fit into the depression 18 formed by the side walls 19 of the box 11 and the inwardly extended shelf Q0 which indirectly supports the said plate 16.

rlhe said shelf 2O is in `turn provided with suitable holes or depressions which are adapted to receive resilient upstanding members such as rubber plugs 21 upon which it is intended to support the plate 16.

lt will be readily seen that the plate 16 is mounted in the box 11 in such manner that it is susceptible to yielding movement in four directions as circumstances call upon it to be so7 and may be said to be a universally movable plate and will be referred to as such hereinafter.

Located within the box 11 and with its upper portion preferably in Contact with or at least in close proximity to the said plate 1G. is a heating medium 25, which is resilient in nature and is slightly concaved at the top side to receive and snugly contact with a formed upper blank, and is hollow to receive steam, hot air or hot water through the entrance and exit pipes 26 and 2,7 respectively.

It will be obvious that it is within the limits of the invention to heat the medium by means other than the aforementioned, as for instance by electricity if so desired.

In order to insure uniformity of upper ianfe or in other words to properly posiion the upper blank relatively to the formng; plate 16 a plurality of gauge pins 28 are providerh which are adjustable on the said plate by means of the screws 29, the said plate having slots 30 through which the lriendicularly arranged cross members 31 extend so that the same pins `will function as lgauges when the plate is reversed.

The clamp member 32 which is also a feature of the invention is mounted in a universal manner and is arranged to be heated in the present instance by electricity.

lhile it is desired to operate the clamp -2 by cam movement it is also desired that neans be employed to compensate for slight unforeseen chauffes in thickness of the matir.' .l fed to the machine.

ist in the frame 10 is a stud 35 upon vwhich the levers 236 are loosely mounted, the forward ends of which are slotted as at 37 ceive the spherical studs 88 laterally the clamp 32 see Figure 4. t with said levers normally n said clamp in operative position and permit of the reversal or replacement i; said clamp.

heati g unit 40 for the said clamp may Aich is preferably of a well known electric type deriving its power from any suitable source. rl`he rear portions of the said levers 25 are in the present instance con nosed of spring metal parts 41 suitably ured to the levers 86 and having` cam rozlers adapted to contact with the cams N3 on the crank shaft 44 under the action ings 45.

i.. will be readily seen that if, by accident or otherwise, material of a thickness greater than intended should be fed to the machine, the positive action of the cams 43 would be suiiiciently relieved by the lyielding movements of the spring parts 417 so that breakage would not take place and the material would not be unduly clamped to the detriment thereof or the proper forming of the upper blank interfered with.

The upper forming implement shown in the present instance as the toe part of last, but which if desired may be a full .last as seen in Figure 57 is suitably secured,

in removable manner to the plunger 51 guided in bearings of the frame 10 and held from turning therein by the spline 53 and groove 54 of said plunger 51.

rlhe plunger actuating lever 55 has a bifurcated transversely slotted end 56 adapted to embrace the roller studs 57 at the upper end of said plunger while its rear end is connected by the link 58 with the crank 59 of the shaft 44.

The said lever 55 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 60 the bearings of which are slidable boxes G1 suitably guided in ways 62 of an upstandinn` portion 63 of the frame 10.

Springs 64 interposed between the said boxes G1 and caps 65. and under the control of thumb screws 66, are provided. Hold down latches (i7 for the boxes G1, the purpose of which will be hereinafter referred to, are also provided.

The crank shaft 44 has fast therewith a gear in mesh with a smaller gear 71 the ratio between the two in the present instance being' two to one.

The said 71 is loose on the stud shaft and has as a part thereof a hub 73 in which is slidably mounted a stud 74 bellO hind which is a spring normally tending to force the said stud 74 outwardly.

The stud 7a has a pin i6 extending theretrom which travels in a slot longitudinally of said hub and is adapted to be engaged by a stud retractingbrake shoe 77 at the end oiLl aired TS which is normally held in the position shown in Figure l by a spring' 79.

Also loose on the said stud shaft 72 is a pret erably continuously rotating pulley extending from the hub ot which is a dog 8l adapted to at times engage the stud 74 and through the gears 7l and 70 drive the machine.

The rod 78 may be manually operated or if desired may be operated by toot power.

Loosely attached to the shaft 60 is a` yoke havingl rod connection 86 with a hand or foot operated lever not shown, the purpose oi which will be more itully explained.

ln operating the machine let it be supposed that the proper settinjiv oit the machine `lor the reception or' the material to be operated upon has been made and that the said material is of such nature that the forming operation may be completed entirely by power.

ln the latter case the latches 67 will be engaged with the boxes' .Gl and the machine ready for use.

rlhe blank B will be placed on the pla-te 16 see Figure S where it will be positioned by the gauge members 3l, whereupon the rod 78 will be depressed, releasing the pin 7G, by which action the stud 74 is forced into the path ot the continuously revolving dog); 8l, which contacts therewith and causes the machine to start.

ris it is in many instances advisable to continue the pressure of the forming implement 50 upon the material for an indefinite period the present machine is designed to operate in two stages if necessary and for that reason atter tripping the stud Til, the rod 7S will be allowed to resume its normal position ready for the shoe 77 to engage the pin 7G and force the stud 74 out ot engagement with the dog 8l, which will occur upon one complete revolution of the gear 7l or one haltl revolution of the gear 70 and consequently ot the cam 43 and crank 59.

lll/Then the machine has been started as previously described, the cams 43 will cause the clamp B2 to descend and clamp the material between it and the plate 16 meanwhile the forming implement 50` has started on its way toward the blank and will continue until it reaches it and forces it gently but firmly into the positions shown in Figure 9 at which time and position the machine will stop as previously explained.

rlhe interval of rest may be long` or short according to the judgment or vthe operator, who will at the proper time, again trip the stud .74 and cause the machine to resume its normal or start-ingl position whereupon the formed upper will be removed and a new blanl; inserted tor operation.

lt the blanks should vary in thickness, or it an individual blank should not be unitorm in tliiclniess the proper clamping thereof will not be hindered, as it will be understood that the novel manner or mounting the clamp 32 and the flexible connection between the cams eiland clamp each of which will do its part in causing automatic adjustment to be mate to compensate for the said inequalities of the material. So too the novel manner oi supporting the forming L plate 16 enables it to be depressed slightly in a plane parallel to itself, or if required tilted in the direction rrequired to thereby relieve undue pressure where not required and it may also be slightly shifted in its own plane automatically upon the descent oit the in'iplement to adjust itself to any inequalities of the, material or to inaccurate registering ot the implement 50 and the shaped slot ot the forming` plate 16.

ln order to properly stop the machine on the completion ot the second stage or' the operation, a stop is provided on the hub 73 which 1s adapted to meet the end 91 of the shoe 77 after the stud Tl has been retracted and at which time the shoe will function a brake on the said hub 73.

lt will be understood however that it is not intended that the machine shall be run at great speed and consequently the braking and stopping actions are accomplished without detrimental shock.

ln the event that a class ot material is to be operated upon that is tender, or that is of such nature that it is not advisable to attempt to completely form it in a power driven machine, provision has been made to perform part of the operation by power and the delicate portion by hand or foot power.

ln the last mentioned instance the latches 67 will be disengaged from the boxes 61 and the resistance of the springs 64 regu lated by the screws G6 in such manner that when the machine is started the clamping i' will take place as betore, and the implement 50 will descend to engage the material, but will not positively oree it for its full distance. lt will however be forced to meet the material and start it on its forming operation until the resistance of the material overcomes that r the springs G4, at which time theimplement will not appreciably descend further under power but the pivotal shaft G0 will be raised instead, until the machine comes to stop at the end oic the tirs* stage.

At this time the upper is not fully formed and in tact may not be more than started and to complet-e the operation, the shaft 60 has a yoke 85 having rod 86 connection with a hand, or foo-t lever, not shown which will now be depressed, gradually, if need be, and as many times as necessary, until the. material is finally worked to a point where the upper is formed, and if desired the latches (37 may be engaged with the boX Gl and the formed upper allowed to set for a while under pressure.

At the proper time in the judgment of Jthe operator the machine will be again started on its second stage and the formed upper .removed to make place for another blank.

It will be readily understood that the springs G-l may be of such size and the tension thereof regulated to such extent that very delicate material may be operated upon, in fact equaling that of a. full, hand machine, while on this same machine sturdy material may be formed entirely by the powei` process.

In either of the above methods of operation the upper blank will be gradually forced downwardly into form and on its way will contact with the heating medium Q5 which will closely contact with the material and aid in its formation by the transmission of heat thereto.

To further facilitate in the forming of the upper, the forming implement 50 will be heated .in any well known manner, but preferably by electricity as indicated by the wires 50X which convey the current thereto from any suitable source.

Having described the invention we claiinz l. ln a power operated upper forming machine in combination, a forming implemeut a forming plate; means to adjust said plate toward and from said forming implement; means whereby said plate may be shifted in its own plane; means whereby said plate may be depressed to thereby afford universal movement thereof; a clamp member adapted to eoact with said plate to clamp the work, and mounted so as to be tilted in a universal manner; means to actuate said clamp member; resilient means intermediate said clamp member and said actuat r; and means to actuate said formingl in'i'plement.

2. In a power operated upper forming machine, in combination, a forming implenent a universally movable forming plate; means to adjust said plate relatively to said forming implement; a universally movable clamp member; means to actuate said clamp member; resilient means interposed between said clamp' member and said actuator; means to aetuate said forming implement; and means to complete a cycle of operations of said machine in a plurality of stages.

i-i power operated upper forming machine of the cla-ss described having in combination, a forming plate; a clamp .meniber; means whereby said clamp member may be tilted in one direction; carriers for said clamp member adapted to be independently moved at times whereby said clamp i'xember may be tilted in other directions, said carriers having means forming part thereof adapted to yield under certain work claniping conditions; means to aetuate said carriers to clamp the work; a forming iinplement; and means to aetuate said implement.

il. ln a machine for forming uppers for boots and shoes and capable of being both power and manually operated, a forming plate; work clamp means coacting therewith; aforming implement; power operated means, including` a lever, for actuating said implement, said lever being normally fulcrumed at a given point; means where1r y said lever may fulcrum at another point; and means whereby said lever may be caused to fulcrum at a third point.

5. ln a machine for forming uppers for boots and shoes, and capable of being both power and manually operated, a forming plate; weint clamp means coasting therewith; a forming implement; power operated means arranged to aetuate said implement to form an upper but to yield before the complete forming thereof if called upon to do so by the resistance of said upper, and while the machine is under power; and means to thereafter complete the formation of an upper, manually.

Signed by us at Boston, lilassaehusetts this 3rd day of May 192B.

GEORGE H. CLARK. LElVlS A. l-EARON.

Cil 

